Pumping device



Nov. 9, 1965 o. c. BLOMGREN, SR, ETAL 3,

PUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS OSCAR C.BLOMGREMSR. OSCAR C. BLOMGREN, JR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 o. c. BLOMGREN, sR.. ETAL 3,

PUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Nov. 9,1965 o. c. BLOMGREN, SR. ETAL 3,216,617

PUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Fl G 4OSCAR C. BLOMGREMSR. OSCAR C. BLOMGREN, JR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 o. c. BLOMGREN, sR.. ETAL. 3, ,6

PUMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS OSCAR C.BLOMGREN, SR. 5;; OSCAR C. BLOMGREN, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi Fice 3,215,617 Patented Nov. 9, 19653,216,617 PUMPING DEVIQE Oscar C. Blomgren, Sn, and ()scar C. Blomgren,In, Lake Biulf, IIL, assignors to Diamond Alkali Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 319,969 7\Claims. (Cl. 22264) This invention relates to a device wherein apumpable fluid may be temporarily stored preceding or subsequent topumping of fluid through such device, and more particularly relates to anovel fluid-storage, fluid-pumping device wherein provision is made forinterrupting the flow of fluid therethrough intermittently as desired,and still more particularly relates to such a device having fail-safefeatures whereby the pumping device functions to pump fluid in responseto means disposed within the fluid storage compartment and positivelyresponsive to pumpable fluid therein to actuate valving means permittingpassage of such fluid to the pumping device in communication therewith.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device in which apumpable fluid may be temporarily or momentarily stored, and from whichsuch fluid may be removed on demand by suitable coacting valving andpumping means.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device having anaxially reciprocable valve means which is brought into open position byan instrumentality positively responsive to the level of a pumpablefluid within the containing vessel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid-storage,fluid-pumping, device suitable for application of fluid pesticides,fluid fertilizers, and the like fluid materials from land, water and airvehicles. including suspensions of finely divided solids in gases suchas air, and providing intermittent passage of a fluid through suchdevice, by a combination including valving means which is brought intoopen position by an instrumentality positively responsive to pumpablefluid within the containing vessel and which forces pumpable fluidtoward a pump in fluid communication with the containing vessel, and isbrought into closed position by means exerting a force upon the valvingmeans less than that exerted by said positively responsive means in thefluid within the containing vessel, the various coacting means beingarranged so that in the event there is a failure to supply pumpablefluid to the vessel in amounts sufficient to actuate the positivelyresponsive valve-opening instrumentality, or in the event of mechanicalfailure of the positively responsive valve-opening instrumentality tohold the valve in open position, the device will fail safe, i.e., thevalve will quickly close and remain closed until such time as asufiicient amount of the pumpable fluid is supplied to the containingvessel, or the mechanical failure is remedied, to reopen the valvingmechanism.

A still further obiect of the invention is to provide a fluid sprayingdevice possessing the attributes of the above enumerated objects andfurther adapted to supply fluid sprayable material to either rotatingspray heads or stationary spray heads.

Pursuant to the above objects, the present invention is directed to afluid-storage, fluid-pumping, device permitting intermittent passage ofsuch a pumpable fluid therethrough, comprising the combination of (l) avessel for containing pumpable fluid material, said vessel havingspaced-apart inlet and outlet ports,

(2) axially reciprocable valve means mounted within said vessel invalving relation with said outlet port,

(3) means for reciprocally transposing said valve to open and closedpositions and including means positively responsive to pumpable fluidwith said vessel and asso ciated with said valve means for transposingsaid valve means within said vessel to open said outlet port,

(4) said inlet port opening into said vessel so as to provide a body offluid suflicient for actuating said positively responsive means,

(5) and pumping means adjacent said outlet port and in fluidcommunication therewith for withdrawing fluid from said vessel when saidvalve is in open position.

In order that those skilled in the art may better understand the mannerin which the various elements of the device of the invention coact asdescribed, reference is made to the drawings. attached hereto and made apart hereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of a partial vertical section of afluid-storage, fluid-pumping device within the scope of the presentinvention showing the relationship of the various parts;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a valving means and instrumentalities formoving the valving means axially;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of the valve body, in the direction of lines 33 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the valve body along the lines 44 ofFIG. 3 and FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a device embodyingthe present invention mounted on an aircraft of the helicopter type forthe application of pesticides over relatively large land or Water areas.

The device of the present invention may be more specifically describedwith reference to the drawings, wherein there is provided a vessel 2 forcontaining a pumpable fluid material, such as a solution of a substancein water or oil, a dispersion such as an emulsion of oil and water,either of the Water-in-oil type, or the oil-in-water type, thixotropicdispersions of solids or hydrated solids in water or thixotropicemulsions of waterin-oil aerated powders, or other suitable pumpablefluid.

The vessel 2 has an inlet port 4, and spaced-apart therefrom, an outletport 6, with suitable means for introducing a pumpable fluid into vessel2 through inlet port 4, which means may include a pump (not shown) orother device for withdrawing liquid from a reservoir in fluidcommunication with vessel 2, or a suitably mounted vessel from whichfluid is introduced into vessel 2, by gravity alone. In the form of theinvention illustrated in the drawings, axially reciprocable valve means8 mounted within said vessel 2 in valving relation with the outlet port6, is associated with means for reciprocally transposing said valve toopen and closed positions, including means such as screw propeller (orimpeller) 10 which is positively responsive to a pumpable fluid withinthe vessel 2 for transposing' valve 8 to open the outlet port 6 when thescrew propeller 10 is rotated Within the pumpable fluid. It is, ofcourse, understood from fundamental principles of aerodynamics as wellas hydrodynamics, that the thrust of screw propeller 10 is in thedirection of outlet port 6 in order that the screw propeller may liftvalve means 8 and open the outlet port 6.

In order to effect the above-described relationship, there is providedwithin the vessel 2 a centrally vertically disposed rotatable shaft 12extending through said vessel 2 and outlet port 6, a tubular member 14mounted on shaft 12 in longitudinally axially reciprocable relationshipand coaxially rotatable with shaft 12, the tubular member 14 extendingalong shaft 12, preferably from beyond outlet port 6 to substantiallyless than the extent of shaft 12 within vessel 2. Tubular member 14carries valve means 8 adjacent the lower end thereof closing outlet port6, and, preferably adjacent the upper end, the screw propeller (orimpeller) 10, the blades of which provide a thrust in the direction ofthe outlet port. The valve means 8 preferably includes a bulbous closurebody encompassing bushing and sleeve 16 rotatably mounted on andsupported by tubular member 14, in such relationship that the valvemeans 8 is free to rotate with the tubular member when the valve is inopen position, while also providing for little or no rotational movementwhen the closure body is seated in closed position. Appropriate sealingmeans may be provided in association with valve means 8 or shaft 12 toprevent loss of fluid from chamber 2 to outlet port 6 when valve 8 is inclosed position, as is well understood in mechanical design principles.

In order that tubular member 14 may longitudinally axially reciprocateand rotate with shaft 12, a pin-andguide-slot arrangement is provided onshaft 12 and tubular member 14. It will be appreciated by those skilledin the mechanical arts that the pin 18 may be mounted either on tubularmember 14 or on shaft 12 and the slot which guides pin member 18 in itslongitudinal axial movement would then be a part of the otherinstrumentality. As shown in the drawings it is preferred generally tohave the slot 20 cut in tubular member 14, such slot being arrangedsubstantially either vertically as shown by slot 20 in FIG. 1, or it maytake the form of a helical slot 22 in tubular member 14, as shown inFIG. 2, especially when comparatively dense, highly viscous, pumpableliquids such as emulsions are to be contained in and pumped throughvessel 2 to a spraying device.

The substantially vertical slot arrangement 20 provides for very rapidmovement of tubular member 14, which in turn causes rapid movement ofthe valve 8 and screw propeller 10 vertically along shaft 12, whereasthe helical slot 22 shown in FIG. 2 will cause valve 8 to open and closesomewhat less rapidly upon rotation of shaft 12 in comparatively denseor highly viscous pumpable liquids. Whether the substantially verticallydisposed guide slot 20, or the helical guide slot 22, in tubular member14 is employed, the guide slot should be sufliciently extended along thetubular member 14 so as to provide movement of said tubular member 14 asufficient distance to effect longitudinal axial movement of valve 8 toopen position when the screw propeller 10 is rotated in the fluid in thevessel 2.

Associated with tubular member 14, carrying screw propeller 10, andvalve 8, there is a coil spring 24 mounted upon shaft 12 so as to exerta force upon tubular member 14 in the direction of outlet port 6. Coilspring 24 is of such a type as to have a maximum magnitude of force inthe direction of outlet port 6 not greater than the lifting force of thescrew propeller 10 rotating in the pumpable fluid in vessel 2, while atthe same time maintaining valve 8 extended in open position. Downstreamfrom outlet port 6 there is located a pump 26 in fluid communicationwith outlet port 6 for withdrawing pumpable fluid from vessel 2. Thetype of pump employed will, of course, depend upon the desireddisposition of the pumpable fluid outside the device of the presentinvention. By way of example in applying a water-in-oil emulsion of aherbicide, or the like, such emulsion having the consistency ofmayonnaise for example, a centrifugal pump is preferably employed whichbreaks the emulsion upon into droplets on expulsion from the centrifugalpump.

In this regard, it may be pointed out that the screw propeller 10 has amultiple function, particularly with regard to emulsions in vessel 2, inthat propeller 10 opens valving means 8, while simultaneously mixing andblending the components of the emulsion exerting shearing forces on thecontinuous and discontinuous phases thereby effecting a higher degree ofdispersion of one phase in the other, as well as withdrawing fluid fromthe inlet port 4 and forcing fluid toward outlet port 6 into the suctionside of pump 26.

Additional items of construction of the device of the present inventioninclude means for rotating shaft 12, including, for example, a motor 28having a pulley 30 mounted on its drive shaft 32 and engaging a flexiblebelt 34 which in turn drives pulley 36 mounted upon shaft 12 at itsupper end. Motor 28 is conveniently mounted upon vessel 2 by suitablemounting means 38, although it will be appreciated that motor 28, orother driving means may be placed otherwise in driving relationship toshaft 12.

Vessel 2 is preferably fitted with a cover plate 40 in which may bemounted bearings 42 for shaft 12 as well as means 44 for venting theinterior of vessel 2, particularly when the pumpable fluid within vessel2 is a liquid, and the presence of air or other gas within vessel 2could cause cavitation or otherwise prevent adequate amounts of liquidfrom entering vessel 2 through inlet 4 and thereby prevent screwpropeller 10 and associated instrumentalities from adequately liftingvalve 8. Vessel 2 may also carry additional bearings 46, mounted in aspider or similarly perforated plate 47, for adequately securing shaft12 and tubular member 14 in proper position for effectively opening andclosing valve 8. Further, there is provided a cone or dish-shaped bottomportion 48 secured to vessel 2 by suitable means such as bolts 49, toinsure that all of the fluid material, particularly in the case ofliquids, drains toward outlet port 6. In this regard, valve 8 ispreferably shaped in its lower portion to conform to the contours ofbottom portion 48 is vessel 2 as shown at 50 in FIGS. 3 and 4, forproper seating of the valve and assuring minimum leakage of materialfrom vessel 2 past valve 8 when in closed position. The cover plate 64shown in FIG. 5 may be used to seal an observation port on the side ofvessel 2, in which case maintenance or repair of the internal workingsof the present invention may be made when the plate is removed, or thislatter port may also be used as an additional inlet port.

By way of illustration, one especially effective use of the device ofthe present invention is in the spray application of an agriculturalpesticide to be applied over relatively large land or water areas. Inthis regard reference may be had to FIG. 5 herein where the device ofthe present invention is shown mounted on a helicopter 52, which inaddition may carry two tanks 54 (only one of which is shown) forcontaining a water-in-oil emulsion of a herbicidal material such as anester of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4,S-trichlorophenoxyaceticacid in a suitable solvent, the supply tanks 54 being in fluidcommunication with the device of the present invention by means of pipes56 which converge to a single supply line 58.

In FIG. 5 the lower portion 60 of the device of the present invention isadapted to rotate with shaft 12 to throw a spray of the water-in-oilemulsion through a series of ports 62, and internally of lower portion60 is the equivalent of the pump 26 of FIG. 1, which is of thecentrifugal type also adapted to rotate with shaft 12 so as to form acircular spray pattern.

With the device in place on the helicopter as shown in FIG. 5, and withthe supply tanks 54 filled with the water-in-oil emulsion to theircapacity, the helicopter may then take off and by means of simple on-offelectrical controls within the cockpit, the motor 28 is activated at theappropriate time in flight for the application of the emulsion toundesired vegetation with no further require ment for attention on thepart of the pilot until such time as the tanks 54 and vessel 2 areemptied, whereupon the fail-safe features of the device of the presentinvention take over and because of no further supply of the emulsionwithin the vessel 2, and hence an inadequate amount of fluid medium ispresent within the vessel 2 against which the screw propeller 10 maywork, the spring 24 forces propeller 10 and associatedinstrumentalities, including valve 8 in a downward direction to closeoutlet port 6. Because of the coaction of the screw propeller 10 workingagainst the liquid contained in vessel 2 to lift the valve 8 to openposition, and further to force additional quantity of liquid in thedirection of outlet port 6 and pump 26, there is provided by the presentinvention a device insuring a minimum of cavitation within the body of 5fluid entering the suction side of pump 26, and affording efiicientutilization of the mechanical energy supplied by motor 28.

While there have been described various embodiments of the invention,the methods and apparatus described are not intended to be understood aslimiting the scope of the invention as it is reaized that changestherewithin are possible and it is further intended that each elementrecited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referringto all equivalent elements for accomplishing substantially the sameresults in substantially the same or equivalent manner, it beingintended to cover the invention broadly in whatever form its principlemay be utilized.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid-storage, fluid-pumping, device providing intermittentpassage of a pumpable fluid therethrough to maintain a desired leveltherein, the combination comprising:

(a) a vessel for containing pumpable fluid material,

said vessel having spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports,

(b) means for introducing a pumpable fluid into said vessel through saidinlet port,

(c) axially reciprocable valve means mounted at the bottom of saidvessel in valving relation with said outlet port,

(d) means for reciprocally transposing said valve to open and closedpositions including means at said level positively responsive topumpable fluid within said vessel and associated with said valve meansfor transposing said valve means within said vessel to open said outletport,

(e) said inlet port opening into said vessel so as to provide a body offluid suflicient for actuating said means positively responsive topumpable fluid within said vessel,

(f) and pumping means adjacent said outlet port in fluid communicationtherewith for withdrawing fluid from said vessel when said valve is inopen position.

2. In a fluid-storage, fluid-pumping device providing intermittentpassage of a fluid therethrough to maintain a desired level therein thecombination comprising:

(a) a vessel for containing a pumpable fluid material,

said vessel having spaced apart inlet and outlet ports,

(b) means for introducing a suitable fluid into said vessel through saidinlet port,

(c) axially reciprocable valve means at the bottom of said vessel invalving relation with said outlet port and attached to a rotatablecomponent positively responsive to said fluid within said vessel totranspose said valve means from closed position to open position uponrotation of said component in said fluid,

(d) means forcing said valve to closed position when said component isin a state not responsive to said fluid in said vessel to transpose saidvalve means to open position,

(e) said inlet means being positioned so as to supply a body of saidfluid sufficient to actuate said rotatable component upon rotationthereof to transpose said valve means,

(f) and pumping means in fluid communication with said outlet port.

3. In a liquid-storage, liquid-pumping, device providing intermittentpassage of a liquid therethrough to maintain a desired level therein thecombination comprising:

(a) a vessel for containing a pumpable liquid material, said vesselhaving spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports,

(b) axially reciprocable valve means mounted at the bottom of saidvessel in valving relation with said outlet port,

(c) a rotatable screw propeller mounted within said vessel andassociated with said valve means so as to force said liquid in saidvessel generally in the 6 direction of said valve means and to transposesaid valve means from closed position to open position,

(d) means for rotating said screw propeller,

(e) means for introducing said liquid through said inlet port into saidvessel,

(f) and pumping means communicating with said outlet port forwithdrawing said liquid from said vessel when said valve is in openposition.

4. In a liquid-storage, liquid-pumping, device providing intermittentpassage of a liquid there-through, the combination comprising:

(a) a vessel for containing a purnpable liquid material,

said vessel having spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports,

(b) means for introducing said liquid into said vessel through saidinlet port,

(c) a rotatable shaft mounted within said vessel and being coaxial withsaid outlet port,

(d) a tubular member mounted on said shaft in longitudinally axiallyreciprocable relationship and coaxially rotatable therewith,

(e) said tubular member having mounted thereon a valve means adjacentone end and positioned to close said outlet port, and adjacent the otherend a screwpropeller having a thrust toward said outlet port,

(f) pin and guide means integral with said shaft and said tubular memberproviding rotational and longi tudinal axial movement of said tubularmember upon rotation of said shaft, and engagement of said screwpropeller in said liquid in said vessel,

(g) means providing a force upon said tubular member having a componentin the direction of said outlet port,

(h) a centrifugal pump mounted on said shaft and fluidly communicatingwith said outlet port so as to withdraw said liquid therefrom when saidvalve is in open position,

(i) and means associated with said said liquid outside said vessel.

5. In a liquid-storage, liquid-pumping, device providing intermittentpassage of a liquid therethrough, the combination comprising:

(a) a vessel for containing a pumpable liquid material,

said vessel having spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports,

(b) means for introducing said liquid into said vessel through saidinlet port,

(c) a rotatable shaft mounted within said vessel and being coaxial withsaid outlet port,

(d) a tubular member mounted on said shaft in longitudinally axiallyreciprocable relationship and coaxially rotatable therewith,

(e) said tubular member having mounted thereon a valve means adjacentone end and positioned to close said outlet port, and adjacent the otherend a screw-propeller having a thrust toward said outlet p (f) a pinintegral with said shaft and engaging a helical guide-slot in saidtubular member thereby providing longitudinal axial movement of saidtubular member upon rotation of said shaft and said screw propeller insaid liquid in said vessel,

(g) means exerting a variable force upon said tubular member in thedirection of said outlet port with a maximum magnitude equal to thatexerted by said screw-propeller rotating in said liquid whilemaintaining said valve in open position,

(h) a centrifugal pump mounted on said shaft and fluidly communicatingwith said outlet port so as to withdraw said liquid therefrom when saidvalve is in open position,

(i) and means associated with said pump for distributing said liquidoutside said vessel.

6. In a liquid-storage, liquid-pumping, device providing intermittentpassage of a liquid therethrough to maintain a desired level therein thecombination comprising:

(a) a vessel for containing a pumpable liquid material,

pump for dispersing said vessel having spaced-apart inlet and outletports,

(b) means for introducing said liquid into said vessel through saidinlet port,

() a rotatable shaft mounted within said vessel and being coaxial withsaid outlet port,

(d) a tubular member mounted on said shaft in longitudinally axiallyreciprocable relationship and coaxially rotatable therewith,

(e) said tubular member having mounted thereon a valve means adjacentone end and positioned to close said outlet port and adjacent the otherend a screwpropeller having a thrust toward said outlet port,

(f) said valve means comprising a sleeve rotatably mounted on saidtubular member, and a closure member for said outlet port fixedlyattached to said sleeve, said tubular member having a flange supportingsaid sleeve and said closure member when said valve is in open position,

(g) a pin integral with said shaft and engaging a helical guide-slot insaid tubular member thereby providing longitudinal axial movement ofsaid tubular member upon rotation of said screw propeller in said liquidin said vessel,

(h) a centrifugal pump mounted on said shaft and fluidly communicatingwith said outlet port so as to withdraw said liquid therefrom when saidvalve is in open position,

(i) and distributing means associated with said pump comprising aplurality of tubularly shaped channels arranged about the periphery ofthe impeller of said pump so as to receive liquid impelled therefrom anddisperse said liquid outside said vessel.

7. In a liquid-storage, liquid-pumping, device providing intermittentpassage of a liquid therethrough, the combination comprising:

(a) a cylindrical vessel for containing a pumpable liquid material, saidvessel having spaced-apart inlet and outlet ports, means for introducingsaid liquid into said vessel through said inlet port,

(b) a vertically disposed rotatable shaft extending through said vesseland said outlet port,

(0) a tubular member mounted on said shaft in longitudinally axiallyreciprocable relationship and coaxially rotatable therewith, saidtubular member extending along said shaft from beyond said outlet portto substantially less than the extent of said shaft within said vessel,

(d) said tubular member having mounted thereon a valving means adjacentthe lower end positioned to close said outlet port, and ascrew-propeller having a thrust toward said outlet port, adjacent theupper end,

(e) said valving means comprising a closure member encompassing a sleeverotatably mounted on and supported by said tubular member,

(f) a pin extending transversely from said shaft and engaging aguide-slot in said tubular member, said guide-slot extending along saidtubular member a distance sufiicient to effect longitudinal axialmovement of said valve means to open position when said screw propelleris rotated in said liquid,

(g) a spring mounted upon said shaft so as to exert a force upon saidtubular member in the direction of said outlet port with a maximummagnitude not greater than the lifting force of said screw propellerrotating in said liquid while maintaining said valve means extended inopen position,

(h) a centrifugal pump mounted on said shaft and in fluid communicationwith said outlet port so as to withdraw liquid therefrom when said valvemeans is in open position,

(i) and liquid distributing means attached to and rotatable coaxiallywith the impeller of said pump, comprising a plurality of tubular-shapedchannels in register with the channels of the impeller of said pump soas to receive liquid centrifugally impelled therefrom and to distributesaid liquid outside said vessel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,515 11/41Pezzillo 10387 2,306,301 12/42 Curtis 10388 2,686,618 8/54 Mateer222-333 X LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

1. IN A FLUID-STORAGE, FLUID-PUMPING, DEVICE PROVIDING INTERMITTENT PASSAGE OF A PUMPABLE FLUID THERETHROUGH TO MAINTAIN A DESIRED LEVEL THEREIN, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) A VESSEL FOR CONTAINING PUMPABLE FLUID MATERIAL, SAID VESSEL HAVING SPACED-APART INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, (B) MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A PUMPABLE FLUID INTO SAID VESSEL THROUGH SAID INLET PORT, (C) AXIALLY RECIPROCABLE VALVE MEANS MOUNTED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID VESSEL IN VALVING RELATION WITH SAID OUTLET PORT, (D) MEANS FOR RECIPROCALLY TRANSPOSING SAID VALVE TO OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS INCLUDING MEANS AT SAID LEVEL POSITIVELY RESPONSIVE TO PUMPABLE FLUID WITHIN SAID VESSEL AND ASSOCIATED WITH SAID VLVE MEANS FOR 